The Old English Sheepdog is one of the most recognisable dogs in the world — a large, shuffling mass of grey-and-white fur with a lumbering gait, a booming bark, and a cheerful, slightly chaotic personality that matches the exterior perfectly. They were originally used as droving dogs in southern England, herding cattle and sheep to market, and their working background shows in their intelligence, their need for activity, and their occasionally bossy approach to managing the household.
They are warm, sociable dogs who generally love people and tend to be good with children and other pets. They are also large — 27 to 45 kilograms — energetic, and loud when they decide something needs alerting. Their signature rolling gait and shaggy appearance are genuinely charming; the coat maintenance required to keep them looking like that is significantly less charming.
The Old English Sheepdog coat is, without qualification, one of the most labour-intensive in dogdom. Left unattended, it mats quickly and thoroughly, particularly behind the ears, in the armpits, and around the hindquarters. Maintaining a full show coat requires daily grooming. Most pet owners opt for regular professional clips to a shorter, more manageable length — this dramatically reduces the daily commitment but still requires brushing a few times a week. The coat also tracks in substantial quantities of outdoor debris.
Training them is productive but requires patience. They are intelligent dogs who can learn a great deal, but they have the herding breed's tendency to make independent judgements about the situation. Consistent, positive training from an early age establishes good habits and channels their intelligence usefully.